THE number of symbol stores in Britain dropped last year and the number of non-affiliated c-stores increased in what appears to have been a significant change in previous trends.
Food and grocery research and training charity IGD, working with media company William Reed, released sector data, for the year to the end of March, last month. It said the figures reflected action by groups to take symbol status away from stores that failed to meet terms of compliance and discipline.
“However,” the data announcement said, “there are still some notable elements of growth here, with Booker acquiring the Londis/Budgens operation in September and reinforcing Premier as the single largest symbol fascia group in the market.
“Spar also had a successful year of store additions in 2015.”
The rate of growth of multiple grocer c-stores fell from 10% to 5%, explained in part by the sale of M Local by Morrisons.
